The Bane of My Existence

Actually, there are several banes of my existence right now, each of them equally annoying. I suppose if I had to rank them right now they would go something like this...

1. Fleas. Yes, fleas, in my apartment, on my daughter's stuffed chicken, in the laundry basket, and driving me quietly insane. I think the neighbors think that I'm a psychotic vacuuming freak because I vacuum so much now that the carpet is screaming for mercy. Oh, and did I mention that we don't own a pet? We've never owned a pet. In fact, I wanted to get a hamster and Bodie said no. We had a baby instead. Babies don't get fleas. I curse the rat bastards who left their marvelous flea infestation in our carpeting as I scour the baseboards and change out the vacuum bag yet again.

2. Location, location, location. My classroom is located immediately adjacent to the boys' restroom, the playground, and the exterior hall doors. The same exterior hall doors that are constantly being left open so that the musical sound of children's laughter can infiltrate my cozy corner and remind me that the 1st and 2nd graders are playing in the bathrooms...again...for the third time this week.

3. Moving. We left Eugene in February, meandered through McFarland, had an extended stay in San Diego, and finally returned to the safety of the Redwood Curtain in July. The "we" in this story is actually me, Bodie, Claire, and as much of our belongings as can be stuffed into a 2004 Corolla. All of the other miscellaneous items that make up a fully-stocked two bedroom apartment for two twenty-somethings and a baby? Don't worry, they're all safe and sound in a storage unit. In Eugene. And it's November.